Maowidge.....is What Bwings Us Togevuh Today!

Well....the plague was short-lived.  I do believe the rats (rotter) are gone, or dead.  There has been no activity out there at all for the least couple of days.  This is a good thing.  I heard that pigeons are flying rats, but I can't imagine they could be as bad as the furry little creatures that have been inhabiting our neighborhood.

This afternoon we attended the wedding of one of our YSAs ....Jonathan's sister actually.  They come from a terrific family....Jonathan is the youngest of four, and the older three are sisters....and every one of them is outgoing, steadfast and nice.

The groom is from Ogden Utah....it is the city where I was born.  (quick....put your hand over your hearts!)  His name is Troy....and he came here to Denmark a couple of years ago to visit his sister and brother-in-law ...and while he was here, got involved with the YSA program, met Sarah (his bride) and the rest is history (pardon the cliche).

Many of his nine siblings came for the wedding, as well as his parents and a small company of friends and extended family.  Troy and Sarah will live in Denmark.....a few blocks away from her parents.  I can say with experience that it is a wonderful thing to live close to family.

Sarah served a mission in Slovakia and had many memorable experiences.  She is quiet but not necessarily shy.  She has held some major leadership positions in the church and also served as one of the two planner/coordinator/overseers for Denmark's Especially for Youth last summer...quite a responsibility for one so young.  She is exactly the kind of young woman you like to think of as a poster girl for the YSA program.

She was radiant when she entered the cultural hall for the reception.  We (her guests) had mostly all been there for at least an hour.  They arrived a half hour later than the rest of us, and I think it was worth it because their entrance was entrancing.  She was beautiful and he was handsome and all the single young women there must have been sighing.

Since I wasn't the one snapping the photos, we don't have a picture of the back of her hair or dress....which were both elegant and simple.

We stayed until it was over, because that is the way you do it here.  It really is a lovely custom because you get to know all kinds of people ....you just circulate through the crowd and introduce yourself to people and then chat for awhile.  Of course we talked with many of our YSAs who were there.

The young men certainly get a kick out of SK.  They like his humor, which is.....uh....well....unique.  In settings like this afternoon, they like to talk to him, and sometimes cluster around him laughing and talking.  One of them is hoping to watch the Superbowl live...in the middle of the night....and I think SK was given an invitation.  We'll see how that goes.

After the reception we went to the center for awhile and then home.  Our days are getting longer now, but it is still very dark by five.

And I am ready to go to sleep.  Good Night! (In truth it is about 8:30 now....not five....so it is early, but not too early to retire!)

Predictable Unpredictability....and Other Ponderables

The weather report said that we would most likely have snow all day and all night.  The reports have predicted snow for the last week.  This morning was gray....very gray, and then it began to snow lightly, which turned to rain after a few minutes.  By mid-morning it cleared up a little bit and by the time we left for the temple, it was almost pleasant. (For those of you residing in the greater Phoenix area, that means light gray skies and temperatures in the mid 30s - no wind and no precipitation.)

However, being the trusting souls that we are, we were sure that when we left the temple this evening there would be a foot of snow on the ground.  The walk/bus trip home was just as pleasant as the walk/bus trip there.  As I recall, last winter we did a lot of waiting for the predicted snow to come and it never really did.  It will probably be like that again this year.

Part of the whole unpredictability thing may be that the land is flat and there is often quite a breeze blowing....watching the clouds trot rapidly overhead is always a pleasure.  Being so near the sea probably contributes to our unpredictable weather.

Moving on to a more happy subject....It was a lovely day in the temple.  It was busier than I remember it being in a long time.  We had more workers than usual too.  We did the work for a lady named Edith.  So my sweet mother has been on my mind all afternoon and evening.

The temple is a great place to remember dear people.  Perhaps it is the peace and quiet that let you think deeply.  I spent some time with a woman who gets up every Friday morning at 6 a.m. to get ready and drive from her home in Sweden to the temple here in Copenhagen.  She arrives at 9 and leaves around 9 in the evening....getting home before 11.

She is 34 years old, tall and willowy with long brown hair and mesmerizingly beautiful blue eyes. She smiles often and is a one-woman welcoming committee.  Actually everyone in the temple makes you feel like a million dollars just for walking through the doors!

She speaks Swedish, English, French, German and Italian fluently, and can get along in Danish, Norwegian, Spanish and Portuguese.  If you listened to her speak, you would think she was from one of the midwestern states in the U.S......except sometimes she lapses into a bit of the Irish brogue (I think she spent some time there).  She also spent a year and a half in Milan Italy 20 years ago.

I may have reported to you weeks ago that I asked her if she has felt that she has been blessed for her temple service.  She was thoughtful before replying.  She said that her life is good, and she thinks that the blessings that come are like good health.  When you have it, you just kind of go along enjoying it but at the same time hardly noticing it.  On the other hand, if you were to lose your good health, you would notice it quickly.  For her, working at the temple is one of those things that raises the level of quality in her life, and she suspects that if she didn't continue giving one day a week in service, her life would show it.

It was definitely something for me to ponder.

 

Something Rotte in Denmark

Our building's maintenance man told us today that the community government sent a worker this morning to set rat traps....otherwise known as rotte faelder.  I asked SK how they work.  SK was happy to explain that they have holes that only a rat would go through (so the birds are safe) to get to the poisoned food on the inside.  I asked if they stay inside and die.  He didn't know.

It seems to me that if a rat eats the poison and goes home, i.e. the space underneath our neighbor's wooden-planked raised patio, he might die in there and begin to smell.....rotten....if you know what I mean.  And I imagine that there are few smells as bad as a rotten rotte.  But I will keep you posted.

The spaghetti sauce turned out great.  It is a recipe I found on Allrecipes.com for good pasta sauce, and cooks up in an hour or so, is inexpensive and tastes good.  The biggest time-consumer in making it is peeling and dicing onions and garlic.....not only that but it makes my hands smell bad!....for several days.  I have tried the old stainless steel trick, and peeling an orange and a lemon, but it seems to have to wear off.  And let's face it, 2-day old garlic/onion smell wafting from your hands smells almost as bad as a rotten rotte.

Because of a stake meeting held tonight, our numbers were few....I think we ended with 29, but it worked out just fine.  I made "High Tea Lemon Cookies" to serve after class and they were not a hit.  They weren't bad, but just not everyone's favorite.  They are light weight cookies frosted with lemon frosting.  I liked them, but I don't think I'll make them again....I think they were just too humble a cookie here in this land of decadently delicious pastry.

I prepared my lesson, and as always loved the preparation.  It feeds my soul.  We didn't have any people tonight who needed the English class!  So I sat in on the Danish one and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is interesting to me that Brother Andersen gave an hour and fifteen minute lesson covering 4 sections of the D&C, and covered only a couple of things that I planned to cover.  Had I taught, we would have covered the same material, but we would have given two entirely different lessons!

The summer of 2013, we stayed with Lia and Peter in North Salt Lake until our visas came.  While there, we visited Temple Square and searched for and found the sister missionary who spoke Danish.  She was a delightful young woman who is Danish but had spent most of her growing up years in Greenland.  She was going to return home there the summer of 2014.

In the meantime, her family moved to Denmark and she came home and enrolled in law school.  Then she moved to Copenhagen!....specifically to the island of Amager....our branch.  We have so much enjoyed our association with her.  But she is leaving early in the morning for an internship in Belgium, so we will not be seeing her until August....just weeks before we return home to Arizona.  We are hoping to renew that friendship again then...

Isn't she beautiful?

The Spice of Life

We slept a little later than usual on this beautiful gray morning because we had talked into the early morning hours with some dear friends who are serving a mission on an island in the Carribean.  It was fascinating to hear about their mission...what they do....how they serve....what the country is like.

We also follow the blog of friends who are missionaries in Jamaica...we served with them in the Mesa Temple and have enjoyed comparing notes with them.  For senior missionaries, the possibilities to serve come in varieties of ways, and we never tire of visiting with others who are serving.

We helped a young friend move from her apartment in Amager in to Frederiksberg.  It didn't take long to load our little car, or to unload it.  It took the most amount of time to drive there, drive to her new place and then drive home.  We were happy to be able to help her.  She is from the States, and is here for an extended stay as she is working on her PhD in Copenhagen.  We enjoy having her at the center and in our little branch.

I joined my temple friends for our Danish class in the afternoon.  The experience is different than any language class I have had because our teacher Mette, uses all kinds of unique ways to get us talking and thinking in Danish.  She gives us texts that are difficult for me to translate, but it makes me work, and I think it has helped.  I think if I were immersed in Danish, plus attending Mette's class, I would be fluent in no time.  As it is, sometimes being with that little group practicing Danish is the only time during the week I am really listening and speaking the language.

I am working on the lesson for tomorrow's institute and we just got a call from Kasper who just found out about a meeting tomorrow evening and can't make it to fix dinner.  I have been thinking that with his school and many Church callings, it would probably happen from time to time that he wouldn't be able to make it.

When our Costco wannabe went out of business we got several large cans of tomatoes, beans and tomato sauce.  So, we'll have spaghetti tomorrow evening.  That will be easy and who doesn't love spaghetti?  I'll save the beans for another time.

Last week looking ahead, tomorrow looked like a real easy day.....now I will be giving a lesson and cooking a meal for 40.

We never know what a new day will bring....

Rats II, But Mostly a Post About Great Friends

SK found the maintenance man this morning and brought him into the apartment to point out the rat path from our neighbor's terrace to the grass and lake beyond (and of course where people love to go toss bread crumbs to the birds).  While he was standing looking out our windows, the wily rats kept a low profile.  And in truth....they have kept a low profile since it snowed.  They are probably in their little rat hole gorging themselves on their ill-gotten gains.

Ah Well.

The pinnacle of our day was eating with a couple from our little Amager branch.  They are a little older than we are, and two incredible people.  Actually, they are Kasper's grandparents.  If you could hear Kasper and Joakim speak about them, you would know how wonderful they are.

Sister Hamblin, SK and I went at 6:00.  We have been told that in Denmark if you are invited to dinner at 6....you don't show up at 5:45 or 6:15.  You show up at the door at 6.  We did.  As we entered the hallway of their building, we could smell something wonderful.

They welcomed us into their apartment....it was warm and inviting.  I could hardly get past the entryway.  There was an old printer's drawer with at least 50 compartments to it that had a life time collection of delightful little objects.  There was at least a dozen thimbles.  There was a tiny Singer Sewing machine - one of the earlier models....and old bus (tiny), a tiny little house.....so many things delightful to look at.  There were also some beautiful original paintings, a needlepoint, a relief - it looked like an old Roman one.

We entered the main room.  It spoke volumes about them both.  It was perhaps 10 by 12 with large windows looking out over the street on one side.  Have I ever mentioned that so many people here keep their blinds and drapes open day and night?  There were shades in the windows but they were up and probably always so.  The windows are sparkling clean and glitter with the multiple reflections of light from lamps and light fixtures.  Many people here just enjoy having the windows bring in all outdoors and don't seem to have the same need for privacy that so many in the States have.

There was a comfortable area with two couches and chairs around a coffee table.  The dining table was on one side, close to the kitchen and was set with Royal Copenhagen dinnerware and Danish crystal. The soft lighting came mostly from lamps, which were scattered throughout the room.

There was a desk with a hutch that had some books with gold embossing that shimmered in the light, and a few Royal Copenhagen figurines that looked like they had special meaning to this couple.  A book case also had a few fine books and a few more figurines or vases or other small items that were not overdone in the slightest, but just perfect as a part of this inviting room.  Two area rugs with intricate designs covered most of the two parts of the room.

On the walls hung a unique display of original oils, prints and watercolor paintings.  I stood as long as I could drinking up the beauty of the room and how it had been put together.  The variety was eclectic, yet harmonious.  Ellen (our host) just laughed at me and told me that they had gotten many of the wall hangings at a genbrue, or Deseret Industries type of store.

I have got to get serious about getting SK to take me to more of these stores.  I would love nothing better than to populate the walls of our Gilbert home with beautiful Danish landscapes and paintings.

The meals was pork curry.  The Danes use curry often in regular dishes but they use it sparingly and the result is a very subtle taste that just yells at you, "Have some more!!!!"  They served that with potatoes and peas - both of which tasted delicious with the curry sauce.  For dessert, we had chocolate mousse with a hint of orange.  I was delightfully full when the meal ended.

We sat at the table for another half hour after dinner just talking, and then moved to the couches where we visited for another hour....all the while they were plying us with cookies, chocolates and ginger ale.

A big wedding anniversary is coming up for them and they were telling us about how they will celebrate.  It is a big deal.  It sounds wonderful.  It will happen in June, so we will get to be a part of it I hope.  It is traditional to stand outside their windows and shout congratulations and then get invited in for breakfast!

Ellen was the first stake relief society president here in Copenhagen, and served with two stake presidents.  She knows a great deal about the history of the city and the country.  She knows a lot about church history and doctrine and has taught relief society since we first arrived....she is a marvelous teacher.  She knows a lot about family history and has put together some terrific projects for her family and her husband's family.  She is very good at the computer and helps other members of the branch.  She prepared a Power Point presentation for her family reunion and gave a copy to each family after she introduced them to it.

We sat there close to the gleaming windows with lights shining  from other apartment buildings across the street and beyond and enjoyed the glow of good company, great food and completely engrossing conversation.  We stayed nearly four hours!....which by the way....is a polite amount of time.

It couldn't have been nicer.

Not Just for the Youth

I went to sleep last night thinking about what I would accomplish today.  I have always loved Mondays!  It is a fresh new day, a fresh new week.  I haven't as yet lost my enthusiasm for this day, but they are not always the most productive day of my week.

I made out a list late in the evening, and got a couple checked off today, but there is a lot yet to do. Looking on the bright side though, I got the things done that were most pressing.  I have somehow let SK's white shirts stack up again, and need to set aside a couple of hours tomorrow to iron.  I really don't mind ironing....it is just setting aside the time.

In Family Home Evening at the center a young returned missionary gave a great message about goals.  He quoted from "Preach My Gospel" - an excellent book.  One of the quotes was from Elder Russell M. Ballard:

“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

It was interesting to sit there with all of those young people who have their entire adult lives ahead of them.  I think most of them are optimistic and see themselves married and as parents earning a comfortable living.  I hope they can find all of that.

I am pretty certain though, that there is anxiety among them as they face the future.  The world is marching along at a terrifyingly fast clip....change is the order of the day.  And there is much uncertainty about the international scene.  

I am sure....more sure than ever that the Lord must have reserved special individuals for these times.  It takes much strength to face the future with courage, conviction and sacred covenants to keep.  Our young people have a great adventure ahead, and I think they are uniquely suited to it.  

As for me, I am making lists full of daily goals....looking toward weeks and months and finally, a day that is now about 7 months away....our release date.    

I guess what those young people don't know is that goal-setting isn't just for the young.

On another completely different topic, a newspaper headline on the bus this evening said that Copenhagen has an increasing problem with the rat population!!!!!  I am telling you there is a promising career in being a pied piper.

Enjoying the Journey

SK and I each taught a lesson today in Church.  He taught his quorum the lesson and I taught YSA Sunday School.  We both enjoy teaching....always have, but today's lesson was a stress for SK.  He taught in Danish!  From all I have heard he did an excellent job.  He felt good about it afterward.

I taught in English, because the YSA Sunday School class is always in English....lucky me!  The truth is that SK could have taught in English if he had chosen to do so, but that is absolutely beyond the question.  He feels duty-bound to use the Danish language.

After church, I worked on the lesson for Thursday in Institute.  I will teach from D&C and am looking forward to the discussions that night.  The YSAs are always incredible in the comments they make and the way they participate.  A good question can elicit many wonderful answers, so I am trying to formulate some really good questions.

At our student council meeting this afternoon at the center, he made several comments in Danish...and I must say he always sounds pretty good to me!  And I think he sounds pretty good to everyone else.  No one giggles or asks him to repeat, and I know enough to know that he is pretty careful with grammar as well as pronunciation.  An older woman whispered to me one day at church that a certain elder (definitely not SK) "molests" the language.  It was such a funny comment, but I know what she meant.  In their zeal to learn and speak Danish, some barrel ahead saying whatever they can.  And in truth.....they are the ones who will be able to speak the best when they go home.

Following student council, we had our YSA Sacrament meeting.  Those meetings are always held on the last Sunday of the month (yes....this really is the last Sunday of the month!) and are excellent.  One of the speakers was unable to come at the last minute, so a young woman and I were each asked to bear our testimonies.  I had just a few moments to think about it.

The lovely thing is that I was told I could speak in Danish or English.  I thought .... debated....and went for it in English.  I could have born my testimony in Danish....and it would definitely be better than a year ago, but I knew I had a couple of minutes and I knew our theme was "goals" and I wanted to speak from my heart.  English or Danish, it is really really nice to bear testimony in that setting.

I have had ample time today to immerse myself in the scriptures and to enjoy inspiring meetings.  Those of you with children at home.....enjoy these days.....days like today for me...are ahead for you.  But I sometimes long for those times when my children were little.

I am convinced there is joy to be found in any time....

Oh Rats!

 Upon arising this morning I opened all the blinds to look out at the world shrouded in gray.  Oddly enough animal life seemed particularly busy.  Birds especially were scratching all surfaces looking for a morsel or two.  Even the rat family that lives under our neighbor's wooden-planked patio were scurrying back and forth industriously....carrying stuff in their mouths.  I watch them with a certain curiosity laced with horror.  We see one or two a month maybe....sneaking around outside....under the bushes and over the grass....no doubt trying to get in on the daily feasts the pigeons and seagulls get from people throwing breadcrumbs.  But it is plain to see that there are more than a couple.  Monday morning we will talk to the caretaker of the building.  Those rats have got to go!

By mid-morning, large flakes of snow were drifting down and not melting.  It looked like it would cover everything before long.  No wonder those revolting little rats were getting food secreted away....they apparently knew something about the weather that Google didn't!

The snow looked beautiful.  Believe it or not, it didn't keep the traffic down on the lake path.  Just as many joggers, runners, walkers, and baby carriages as usual....but not quite so many bicycles.

SK served in the baptistry this morning for a few hours, while I worked on a lesson for the YSAs in our branch tomorrow for Sunday School.  We are a small group, so it is relaxed, but they are all knowledgeable, so I need to make sure that I am properly prepared!

In the afternoon I made Shepherd's Pie and a carrot cake for a dinner we had at the Thornes this evening.  Sister Sederholm came and the Brooks and Sister Hamblin were there also.  We ate dinner together and then we watched a movie together.....a Church video that was very inspiring.

Elder Brooks has still not recovered from a bout with pneumonia a few weeks ago, but he is doing better.  Sister Hamblin has not been well, and Elder Thorne is having some health problems.  He will see a doctor on Monday.  He has hardly ever been sick, so this is no doubt quite disheartening to him.  He hurts all over - as if he has the flu - but he is not sick.  This has been going on for a few weeks.

The winter months take a toll around here.  We have several young missionaries who are also having health woes.  I hope they all start feeling better soon.

I will feel better when that rat family moves away. (far away)

The Future is in Good Hands

Oh the beauties of a day in the temple!  On Fridays when we serve, it takes the lion share of the day.  We leave before 1 and get home by 10.  The two bus rides take us somewhere in the vicinity of an hour...sometimes less if we don't have to wait.  If we were to walk it, it would take us about the same amount of time....but it is kind of chilly, and I hate to arrive windblown and out of breath!

We have been expecting snow all week, and so far nothing except the cold....which I don't mind, but SK keeps lamenting the sunshine of Arizona.  My brother visited us in Arizona in the Spring many many years ago, and confided that although he thought it was beautiful, he loved the seasons too much to ever leave the colder climes.  I think I know now what he meant.

Once inside the temple, we feel light and warmth.  The people we serve with brighten my day....the smiles, the hugs, the greetings and the brief conversations all envelop us in warmth.  Four of the women who are there when I am are the four from my little Danish class, and each has become a dear friend.  They encourage me to speak more in Danish.

And I do speak it more, but if given a chance I will speak my mother tongue.  At one point, I was working with two Swedish sisters who were speaking Swedish, one Danish sister who spoke Danish, and of course me....speaking English.

I was in the last session and we had 5 of our YSAs there.  One of them, a young woman had been there since the temple opened.  She spent from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. serving and just enjoying being in that beautiful place.  She is beautiful.  Tall and willowy with long honey-colored hair and deep blue eyes that sparkle, I am certain that she makes a few hearts go pitter-pat.

The dedication of so many of our YSAs inspires me.  They find strength in the temple and they love the gospel. They hold responsible positions in Church, they attend school and many have jobs that take much time. They stand firm with their standards and their testimonies in a place where neither marriage nor fidelity is highly valued.  They study the scriptures and they know the gospel.

The Future is in Good Hands,

There is a Plan and a Purpose

Our institute teacher hurt his back this week.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone, and I hope he is doing better by now.  But it meant that he wouldn't be able to be at Institute this evening, much less teach. Our institute director called us and asked us to take care of it.  Neither of us would have minnded preparing and giving the lesson, but since we already have a young woman who was teaching the English lesson, I contacted her to see if she would mind teaching the whole group...Danes as well as the ones from New Zealand, Brazil, Portugal, Germany and the U.S.

It was a wonderful opportunity for me.  I stayed in the large classroom for the lesson.  Our teacher taught in English, and did a great job.  She taught D&C 93.  She asked questions that made everyone think and classmembers gave incredible answers.  In fact, I sat there and listened to the answers and began to wonder if I was anywhere near their maturity level when I was their age.

I also marveled at how they listened and answered in English without long pauses to formulate sentences and thoughts into a different language than their mother tongue.  They are all proficient in English....amazingly so, but when they answer a gospel doctrine question using flawless grammar and graduate school vocabulary, I am sometimes stunned.  That coupled with mature Gospel understanding is very admirable.

We served chili....wow was it good!  Kasper's brother Joakim made it, and I watched carefully.  It was a great hit with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream and corn chips.  He made a huge pan, and we served it til it was gone....about the time people were thinking of going back for thirds.  Kasper and Joakim have taught me a valuable lesson......you don't need side dishes....at all.  A simple bowl of chili for dinner works great.  I wish I had known this a year ago!

Before institute began I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and pecans.  They were served after class.  One of my favorite young men told me he loved them.  He took a bite out of one and then said, "Yum.....these taste so......American."

I asked what tastes American about them.....he answered, "The frosting."  Well, I just make a simple butter cream frosting, so I don't know how that qualifies, but I am happy that my cupcakes tasted American.  It seems to me that I have seen a lot of frosted goodies around here that are absolutely divine, so I am unsure what is different, but I will still take that as a compliment.

One of our young men brought in a friend from school.  She is from Romania, and sat and talked to me for over an hour.  We had a very good visit.  I was able to explain that life has a purpose and our Father in Heaven has a plan.  I told her that we lived before we came here, and because of Jesus Christ, we will live again after we die.

She was open about it and listened thoughtfully.  I told her about Mormon.org and I hope she went home and looked it up.  She didn't stay much longer than that, but I think she would enjoy everyone in who came tonight.

She has no real beliefs except to say that she believes there is some manner of God.  She has attended a church with a Romanian priest but she feels that the message is outmoded.  I am not sure that she is looking for anything except a group of friends.  She will find that with our YSAs, but I hope that deep inside she is yearning for more....I hope she is looking for meaning to her life.

If she is.....she came to the right place tonight!

A Change of Plans

I eat, I ate, I have eaten, I will eat......sounds like business as usual right?  Actually I have been working on Danish for the Danish lesson today with my temple friends.  Jeg spiser, jeg spiste, jeg har spist, jeg skal spise.  I have a list of words I am trying to memorize and a text that SK has had to go through with me word by word.

Mette, our teacher gives us children's stories or articles and has us read them together and translate.  It is not something I can wait to do until class....or else I look like a dunce.

Mette called this morning and has hurt her knee and must see a doctor, so class was called off.  Not to miss a beautiful cold gray day, SK and I took off on a walk.  We finally ended up at a store where we did some shopping for tomorrow's meal.  Kasper's brother is cooking chili.  I will make a dessert.

We carried our groceries home....SK must be getting stronger because he carries all the heavy stuff home.  I should be getting stronger too because the sacks I carry aren't light.  But in case you are wondering, I am not getting any lighter....the food here is just too good.

The YSAs of our little branch of Amager (pronounced Am mire  - rhymes with admire, but the emphasis is on the AM) planned a temple session tonight, but around 5 we heard from the YSA rep that everyone but the rep had other things come up and couldn't make it.  So SK told him, "We'll see you at the temple!"

SK went, and I stayed home.  I will serve there on Friday for 8 hours.  If there had been any of our young women at the temple tonight I would have gone for sure, but I was asked this week to make placecards for the wedding dinner of a cute YSA who is getting married next week.  I was only too happy to accept.  I have't done much calligraphy in years and it is enjoyable, although I don't have all my familiar equipment.

But since expectations aren't high, I will do my best and feel OK about it.  I spent from 6 to 11 warming up, breaking in a new dip pen, and practicing and centering names.  I worked on the cards themselves until just now - getting about half done.  After I finish here, I will go finish the rest.  Otherwise I will have to spend time warming up again if I wait til tomorrow.

Did you know calligraphy is almost like playing an instrument in that even if you do it every day, you ought to plan on taking at least 30 minutes to warm up before doing anything serious.  When I get warmed up, I put on some soft soothing music and then I begin....almost lapsing into a meditative state as pen pushes the ink around on the paper.  The noise of the metal nib scratching across the surface and the effort to keep my hand, arm and shoulders relaxed keeps me focused.

Today didn't turn out like I had planned, but it was a most enjoyable one anyway.

So Much to Be Happy About!

The temperature has ranged from 2 degrees to minus 1 degree - celsius.  In Farenheit, that is 36 degrees down to 30.  It has rained and snowed.

We had our quarterly PPI with President Sederholm this morning.  He is a great man who is a strong spiritual leader for all of us here in Denmark.  He spent nearly 45 minutes with us - asking about the program at the center, about how we feel about what we are doing, about the YSAs.  He gave us some good counsel and sent us on our way happy.  He will be released by July and replaced by a man from California.  The Church News announced it last week....his name along with quite a few other new mission presidents.  He is coming to the best mission in the world.

After getting home we walked to the main train station to renew our bus/train passes.  It was raining at that point and since it was only a 10-minute walk we made use of the hoods on our coats instead of using the Mary Poppins umbrella.  It was delightful to walk through the light mist.  It was a perfect day to go to the train station because few other people wanted to deal with the cold and rain.

There was no line, so we hardly had to wait at all (sometimes it can be a 15 minute wait...even then that is not so bad) and were on our way shortly.  We detoured to a small version of a Walgreen's to pick up some more tights for me.  I love those black tights that are ubiquitous around here from September through May.  They were on sale for half off....what a deal!

As we walked back to the apartment, it began to snow....great flakes floating down and melting upon landing....but the farther we walked, the more the snow stuck and didn't dissolve.  It was breath-takingly beautiful.  The street as far as we could see was shrouded in a veil of lightly falling snow.

In the evening, we joined  almost all the senior missionaries from the Copenhagen area, plus all three of the temple missionary couples and the Temple President and his wife for dinner at the Knudsens.  Brother Knudsen is about my age and HE CAN COOK.  I never cease to be amazed at the food that comes out of his kitchen.  We feasted tonight.  There were two tables, and we sat at the table with the young-uns.  It was fun just to hear them talking and laughing.  One of them - Elder Hawkes was with us in Sacramento nearly 2 years ago applying for visas.

We have not yet captured an image of a meal from the Knudsens that does it justice.  This was an amazing pork roast with whole pecans, curry sauce with fruit (pineapple, apples etc), yellow rice, and a delicious little potato chip.

Yes....Elder Oakey, Elder Child (on the left and the APs) and then Elder Hawkes and Elder Vance...don't you just love them?

Sister Hamblin on the left, then Sister VanOrden and Sister Reed....so so so cute!

He wouldn't even think of serving bowls of ice cream.  This is specially molded ice cream....3 flavors sprinkled with little chocolate crispy balls and surrounding a fountain of plump blueberries.  See the spoon at the top of my plate (in the lower right corner of the picture)?  The elders call it a prophecy spoon because it means there will be dessert!

Elder Child, Hawkes and Vance looking eagerly on at the ice cream.....Elder Oakey has recently found out he can't eat dairy......hence the long face.

We enjoyed every course....we enjoyed the company - both old and young.

Fun and Games

It is just past 12:30 a.m.....quite possibly the latest we have ever come home on a Monday (or not!). We took our normal walking route home....following the street the center is on several blocks to the entrance to Stroget, across the town hall square, and down Vesterbrogade to Ny Teater, and then along our street to our apartment.  The thermometer said 0 degrees.  I thought it was lovely!  SK (the guy who doesn't like to wear a hat or gloves OR a scarf thought it was really cold.  The good news was that it wasn't snowing and the wind wasn't blowing.

I love that walk to and from the center.  In June when we walk home at night, it will probably still be light at midnight!

We drove out to our stake center this morning to check on the progress of our church building there... it has been closed since December 2013 and was supposed to open again in December 2014.  The interior was gutted and updated.  It is a very large building and should be magnificent when it is done.  But it doesn't look like it will be done any time soon.

On the way back we saw a very large lego church.....from the outside they look like they were built out of legos and they are all over Denmark....usually a 100 years old and more, sometimes way more. I love the look of them.  We couldn't resist, so we parked and went in.  The cavernous interior was spartan to say the least, but it contributed to the vast feeling we felt.

This isn't the one we visited, but it gives you a good idea of what I mean by a "lego-look."

Pay no attention to the woman trying to snap a picture, but look at the back wall!

In the afternoon we walked to the center, where  we worked on things til some of the YSAs came...which wasn't very long.  We had some really great conversations with several.  We played SET....a game I have never been any good at, but ..... I think I am getting better!  We had about 6 playing and I was seeing the sets about as fast as everyone else.  Either they were all slow figuring it out, or our kids were very fast because by the time I ever found a set, our children had practically gone through the deck.  It was demoralizing to say the least.

After a great message from the full-time elders (who are so cute....you just have to love them), we had an evening of team competition, which was hilarious.  I can't remember when I have laughed so much. Morten found them on a Japanese game show program.  They were simple, yet so fun.

The object:  with rubber bands, shoot over a stack of paper cups...Isak, the tall young man doing the shooting won, while Helene didn't make quite as good a showing.

Goal:  blow as many ping pong balls from one side of the table to the other (it has been tilted forward) as you can in 1 minute.

Sort the colors of candy into 6 glasses...first one done wins.

With straws, pass candy around your circle and deposit in dish on table...team with the most wins.

Goal:  Stack as many cookies on your forehead as possible in one minute.

She is beautiful...really.  The goal here was to transfer cookies one at a time from your forehead to your mouth (without using your hands) in one minute....she won hands down (sorry about the pun).

Goal:  Roll coins over to other side of the table so they land between the tines of a fork.

Goal:  With a piece of raw spaghetti in each person's mouth, and a coin with a hole in it hanging on the spaghetti, cross the room and deposit it on a chair.  Team with the most coins wins.

You can see the guys didn't want to hold on to each other....the girls had it a little easier.

Goal:  See how many "steps" the pedometer will record by shaking your head for a minute.

I think everyone had such a great time they didn't want to leave.  It was nearly midnight when they packed up and left....we vacuumed and started the dishwasher and then walked home.

Great day!

Rolling Around Again

What is it with Sundays?  It is a day I always mark as a sort of passage....The week is ending and there are a few little things I do to get the new week off to a good start.  I think Sundays roll around every four days or so, and I am wondering what to do to lengthen that time a bit.

January is sliding down towards February and we have much on the calendar....I can see it will be Spring before we know it.  But not this week.  Snow is predicted....in fact the weather forecast is hinting at possibilities of major storms throughout the week, and a LOT of snow on the ground.  Wouldn't that be fun?  I have boots....and I even have little treads that I can put on the soles of the boots.  I have a warm coat...scarves, gloves....I'm good.  And just maybe we'll talk SK into wearing hat, scarf and gloves.

Church was really nice this morning.  We had three wonderful speakers in Sacrament meeting...2 from the Branch and a high councilor.  A young woman who has always seemed a little shy and retiring taught Sunday School and she did an excellent job.  I wonder more and more about what kind of people Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon and the shepherds were.  I am certain that a "man of the world" would not look twice at any one of them.  Yet they must have been mighty in ways that the world would not see.

Relief Society was also great.  I love the sisters there.  There is never more than 15 of us in attendance and every single one is a treasure.

In the evening, we went to the Valgren's home where dinner was served to the YSAs of Amager Branch and then we watched the Worldwide Broadcast for YSAs.  The message was about living with real intent...making decisions with real intent.  Those special firesides are always outstanding.

The dinner was outstanding as well.  Kasper's brother Joakim prepared it this evening, and he is a natural chef as well.  We ate chicken parmesan and it was easily the best chicken parmesan I have ever had.  One thing I love about Kasper and Joakim is that they are willing to answer all my questions and show me how they do things....so I am learning to be a better cook.

It is obvious that they learned how to cook from their mother who is an excellent cook.  Every now and then, when stumped they say, "I'll call my mum and check to see how she does it."  They are a lot of fun.  The group tonight seemed to click....I think they are getting closer with these monthly dinners.

Tomorrow begins a new week that promises to be busy...we have something going on every day/night, and it is all good. The only bad thing about it is that it seems to go even faster when we are busy.

Perhaps we'll be snowed in and have to stay put in the apartment for a few days.  Do you think the time might drag?

I don't think so either.

Fit For a Queen

I enjoy the weather here....whatever it is, but this morning I awoke to glorious sunshine and clear blue skies.  Throughout the day, clouds appeared but sailed across the sky so fast that they didn't really have time to do much sunblocking.

SK worked at the temple this morning and arrived home a little earlier than usual...so we could go to lunch.  (It was slow this morning and they had plenty of people in the baptistry to take care of things.)  We went to a sweet little Italian Restaurant in Copenhagen.  Lia and Peter went there while they were here, and enjoyed it so much they gave us a gift certificate!

In Copenhagen, parking is at a premium, and if you are lucky enough to find a spot, you pay dearly for it.  So we did what any red-blooded Dane would do....we walked and took a bus and walked!  It was bracing to be out and about on this very cold and windy day...which in combination with the clear sunlit air just makes you glad to be alive.

We found our destination on a beautiful quaint little street along side of one of the city's many picturesque canals.  We walked through the front door into a small elegant interior and were immediately greeted by a smiling and welcoming young man dressed in black.  He conducted us to our table and chatted a few moments with us.  He made us feel like good friends who had dropped in for a visit.

He explained to us the menu (there is basically no menu---they serve you whatever they fix) and asked for our choice of water...plain or sparkling.  SK had called ahead to let them know we don't drink wine or alcohol or coffee or tea.  He was so pleasant and agreeable to make sure that we knew what was in every dish.

After just the right amount of time, he brought the appetizers, plates of glorious fish with I can't even remember what else, but the explanations of elements of each dish were absolutely poetic.  He deposited the plates in front of us with flourish.  We tried a bit of everything....flavors I have never tasted, combinations I had never tried, foods I have only heard of.   What an awesome adventure.

Look at the size of those napkins!

The appetizers....in the little glass dish is a light cream sauce with freshly made lightly seasoned sausage and topped by a sliver of fried truffle....wow!  I don't even know what the other two in front are, but the dark colored ones on the right had squid ink as an ingredient!!!!  And they were very tasty.

Another appetizer....nordic fish that was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and artichoke, with a chopped pickle relish side and dusted with chili powder.

Freshly made pasta....a ravioli - kind of - called "priest's hat" I think because of the shape, filled with wild boar (!), accompanied by fresh steamed spinach and roasted tomatoes and a light saffron sauce...all lightly dusted with licorice powder.

Tender veal topped with crisp chopped almonds, accompanied by roasted red peppers, small cannelloni beans with garlic (divine) and a roast onion, with those dabs of highly flavorful sauce around the edges.

Two pieces are missing....we ate them before we remembered to snap a picture!  The squares were nougat and the little puffs were coconut.

Dessert was a piece of sponge cake topped with ricotta/ice cream with small bits of fruits, with a small side scoop of heavenly gelato and a drop of apricot sauce....or something.  I can't remember what that delightful crispy thing on top was, but it was all dusted lightly with mint.

This wasn't lunch.....this was an experience.  We sat by the large window that looked out into a tiny patio big enough for 2 or 3 tables in the warmer months, enclosed by a tall wall and decorated with beautiful plants and small trees.  Over that were lovely old apartment buildings, set against blue skies.

When we got ready to leave, he presented us with a book about the history of the restaurant and small bottles of olive oil they commissioned to be made for a fundraiser for the Red Cross (the olive oil was judged to be the best of nearly 100 competing kinds), and two chocolates, each in its own little box.

We left wondering if they had somehow mistaken us to be members of the royal family.

Following that we hurried out to the island of Amager where we attended a shower for our fairy tale princess and her soon-to-be-born second son.  One of my sweet personal shoppers in Gilbert had found some adorable little boy's clothes in Gymboree and sent them for this very occasion.  Christine was delighted with the cute outfits, and everyone giggled at the little size 5 shirt for the older boy that said "I am bigger than my little brother."

Back at home, we had the leftover soup from yesterday and settled in for a relaxing evening here.

I opened presents this morning from friends and family...read some sweet cards, and talked with our precious family back home. I am 66 today.  (What?  How did that happen?)

It couldn't have been lovelier....a day fit for a queen.

Strength From Others

Elder and Sister Turpin drove in from Odense this morning.  They are all packed up and ready to fly out early early in the morning.  They will be checking into the Cancer center in Salt Lake City as soon as possible.

They came here and stayed for a couple of hours before going up to Thornes where they will spend the night.  The Thornes dropped by and we all sat and ate Potato Dill soup and hot rolls.  It isn't fancy, but I thought it was kind of comfort food, and they needed a little comfort,

They are a wonderful loving couple who are very close to each other.  In the few weeks they have been here they fell in love with Denmark, Odense, the YSAs there and their mission.  (Who wouldn't?)  It is so hard for them to leave, yet they are planning on returning after her mastectomy.  We will all be praying for them, and praying that it goes well and that they will be back by Spring...a beautiful season here.

SK worked in the temple today....he left before the Turpins got here.  I stayed home so that I could be at the center for anyone who didn't go to the temple with the YSAs.  I fixed a simple light meal using leftovers from Thursday's meal.  We had about 15 come to eat and watch a CES Devotional.  They played games afterwards.

The Turpins walked with me part of the way to the center.  They wanted to find a little souvenir to take to each of their many grandchildren.  I showed them a couple of stores off the beaten path which offer prices a little lower than Strøget.  I hugged them and waved goodbye....I watched them walk away....arm in arm.  I stood there a few moments with a lump in my throat...............then continued on past Tivoli, across the Copenhagen City Hall Square and down the street to the center.

The light of day was dimming, but there was a beautiful cloud-filled sky tinged with pink.  People dressed in varying dark shades were out walking in all directions.  Pigeons were scavenging for scraps of food on the cobblestones.  The bells from City Hall pealed out.  It was cold, but there was no wind which made it heavenly to be out walking wrapped in a warm coat.

I must have spent an hour and a half in conversation with our new young co-chairman of the center....she is replacing Lea.  Helene has thought deeply about the gospel and has a strong sense of who she is and where she is going.  She has strong opinions about so many things.  I love her confidence.

The future is never sure....yet these wonderful young people have come to count on it.  I am glad for their strength and optimism.  I know that will see them through the difficult times that come into every life.

There are difficult times ahead for Elder and Sister Turpin.  Their love for people around them, for their family, for each other and especially for our Father in Heaven will be a great anchor for them.  And doesn't Spring seem like a wonderful time to return to their assignment here?

Counting Blessings

Kasper has begun school, so I am participating a little bit more in the food preparation.  We did the shopping yesterday and this morning.  When I got to the center, I chopped chicken, grated cheese, peeled carrots and cooked the pasta.....and made some ginger snaps.

He hurried in at 4:30, was a whirling dervish for an hour and a half....got the meal served at 6, ate a plate full of Chicken Victoria and then hurried out for a stake leadership meeting.  The dish was excellent.  I don't know how much longer he will be able to keep up with this (he now has a stake calling and a ward calling), but I am more than elated to have him do the cooking.  What a blessing!

One lovely benefit of Kasper doing the cooking and having it ready at 6 is that now I am able to attend Institute class and I love it.  One of the YSAs teaches the lesson.....her name is Deidre.  She taught D&C 88 tonight....one of my favorites.  She did a great job of leading a discussion about light.  I looked around the small room and realized with a start that Deidre and I were the only Americans there.  Everyone else was from either Denmark or another country.

We enjoyed the class and the discussions.....I'm looking forward to more.  There is a young Portuguese woman who makes some tremendous comments.  We go to the class for English Speakers.  English is not her mother tongue, yet she can give insightful and profound answers back in English.  People around here are astonishing.  I would say easily 98% of all the YCAs speak English extremely well.  They don't even have to think...they just speak and think in English......
How would that be?

Two of the young women cleaned up the kitchen and did a few hundred dishes....OK  maybe just 20 or 30.  I did some other cleaning, and we were home before midnight.

I visited with some wonderful young people tonight.  I love the way they talk and laugh and enjoy each others company.  Funny how I have come to know them....and love them.  A year ago, I am sure I was wondering if I would ever feel comfortable around the group.  I do .... I enjoy them all immensely.

We called Lia, and everyone who was at the center at that time sang the Danish "Happy Birthday" song.  It was quite delightful.  She was born 33 years ago.  Every day since January 15 1982 has been a blessing to me.

The moment she arrived, my heart was filled with gratitude for the wonder of the beautiful little girl that was placed in my arms.   I was so grateful for her and grateful that she was ours. Now she is a wife and a mother to her own two little girls. Her faith, strength, testimony, wit, talent with words and goodness are just a small part of the blessing we call Lia.

I'll fall asleep tonight in silent thanks to the Lord.



                                   

Jeg Taler (Lidt) Dansk!

Elder and Sister Turpin are leaving for Utah on Saturday morning.  They have not been here in Denmark for even a month.  She discovered a lump in her breast a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed to be growing.  A hurried visit to a doctor, a biopsy, a diagnosis of malignant and a recommended mastectomy, hurried consultations with Church leaders all lead to arrangements to fly home and go the Huntsman Cancer Center in Utah where she will be close to her family.

It must be devastating.  Everyone is hoping and praying that the treatment will be minimal and that she will be able to return to Denmark soon to continue with their mission.  I am certain that somewhere there is a figure....a percentage of missionaries who will have to return to their homes because of health.  I think perhaps senior missionaries' percentages may be a little higher (but I wouldn't bet on it).

I believe that most senior missionaries arrive in the mission field with a little more expectation that it won't be easy, as well as a seasoned outlook on life.  I think most of us have learned how to cope with being sick from time to time, and with the aches and pains that come from aging....but no one expects to leave early.

We will be praying for her.

This was a "Danish class" day.  We met at 12:30 here in our apartment, had lunch (baked ziti - thanks Erin!) and then worked on our language skills....or in my case - lack of them.  Mette, our cute teacher is so very patient.....she puts us through the paces.  She has us read aloud. She has us translating what we read. She has us write what we hear, spell what we hear and translate what we hear.  She has us writing little stories.  These are all wonderful to help with us hearing and speaking this very difficult language.

But it is fun, and the other ladies are all great company.  It is fun to gather for lunch and attempt small talk in our rudimentary Danish.  They are all temple workers so we have that in common.....and it actually IS fun to play with people my own age!  (Metta is the youngster.)

If you look carefully, you will see SK in the mirror in the hallway trying to snap this picture.  The temple matron - Janet Williams is on the far left....Pam Hoge on her right.  Kayla Hansen on the left on the other side of the table, then Mette our fearless (and endlessly patient) instructor, then me.

Fine Pictures and a Little Music

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Someone mentioned last week that Denmark is the art capital of the world.  I have no arguments with that statement.  Carl Bloch is an artist who lived in Denmark in the 1800's.  He was classically trained in Italy.  The King commissioned him to paint the life of the Savior for the King's castle.  The result was 23 paintings that portray Jesus Christ throughout His life, from birth to the cross, and beyond to appearing in His resurrected state to Thomas and other apostles.   

The Church has used most of those 23 paintings in nearly every publication since the time they obtained a copyright for them.  The artist has also painted several large and magnificent altar pieces that are scattered throughout Denmark and Sweden (with one in Provo, Utah at the BYU Museum of Art).  We have had the sweet privilege of seeing most of them, and hope to see all of them by the time we leave here.

Another great artist is Franz Schwarz - who is Danish.  He painted close to the time that Carl Bloch was painting, and the few works I have seen by him have been very moving.  The subject of one of his great works is Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.   It is - simply - magnificent. 

 It, as well as many of Carl Bloch's works traveled across the world to be on display at BYU's Museum of Art for several months.  I would have loved to have seen it because NOBODY does a better job of educating about and exhibiting great art than BYU.

They are all back in their homes in Denmark and Sweden (and New York), and now SK and I will try to see as many as we can in the next 7 months.

And then there is Bertel Thorvaldsen, the sculptor who created the Christus on which is based the sculptures in many of the Church's visitor's centers.  When the temple in Italy is dedicated, the visitor's center will have not only the Christus by Thorvaldsen....a painstakingly accurate copy, as well as copies of the Twelve Apostles.    

I had the sweet opportunity to share with a small group of sisters from the Amager branch the great art that depicts Christ.  It was a lovely evening with those dear friends....there were 8 of us.  My favorite thing is always when someone says "I saw things in those paintings I have never seen before!"  I have had that experience so many times during the years of training at Phoenix Art Museum.  Those Friday morning lectures nearly always had something in them that opened my eyes once again to the beauties in art.

I was able to give them copies of "Messiah in America," and "That Easter Morn" by the Mormon Choral Organizations....large choir/orchestras from Orange County CA, Mesa AZ and Provo UT.  They were organized and are led by two dynamic young men who are literally musical geniuses.  I have been to many of their performances and they are fantastic.  I love those choirs!  They changed their name to the Millenniel Choirs and can no longer sell those two CDs.  So Melissa sent us 100 of them to give away.  I think they are an incredible gift.  They didn't come free though....Melissa spent $100 just getting them mailed.  But it makes me so happy to give them away.  They have a beautiful song called "Precious Savior" on the Easter CD that I listen to over and over.     

How blessed we are to live in a time and place where our lives are so enriched by great artists.